Feature Story By Olivia Hamilton
Last update December 29, 2025
Award-winning storyteller and filmmaker Elijah Yetter-Bowman grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina as a curious problem solver. They attended UNC Chapel Hill to pursue a career in public health but saw that most complex issues lacked creative communication.
They founded Ethereal Films to help solve problems with media, storytelling, and impact campaigns, and now their work focuses on interdisciplinary action to address major social issues.
Elijah was a 2023 award winner of the National Academies’ Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications with a passion for documentary filmmaking, storytelling, public performance, scientific research, communication, impact campaigns, public engagement and restructuring a better society.
We asked Elijah about their journey into science storytelling, their work with local communities in the South, and their perspective on science filmmaking in today’s digital landscape.
